Bookkeeper Accused of Embezzling $435,000

A former bookkeeper at a Reno furniture store was arrested Friday on suspicion of embezzling more than $435,000 from the business over at least three years.

Debra DeLeon was booked on five felony counts of embezzlementand one felony count of theft, Reno police spokesman Steve Fradysaid.

Accompanied by her attorney, she surrendered to detectives at the Washoe County jail and was being held in lieu of $12,500 bail.

DeLeon worked at Juniper Hill Furniture from November 2001 until she was fired last Oct. 10 after the business owner confronted her about suspicious credit card activity, Frady said in a statement Friday.

DeLeon admitted to embezzling nearly $40,000 with a credit card in that instance, police said.

She later indicated more money may have been stolen through check transactions, which prompted an audit of the company's operating and payroll accounts. The audit identified the theft of another approximately $395,251 from the operating account from Jan. 1, 2003 through Oct. 18, 2006, police said.

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